JAMMU: Around 85 members of the Village Defence Group (VDG) from remote border villages are undergoing intensive training in Jammu to enhance their operational preparedness, police said on Saturday.
The training programme for VDG members hailing from Arnia, R S Pura and Kanachak areas near the International Border was inaugurated by Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Joginder Singh at the District Police Lines, Jammu, a police spokesperson said.
The specialised training is aimed at equipping the VDGs with skills in handling automatic weapons, minor tactics, self-defence, bunker construction and repelling enemy attacks, enabling them to act as first responders during emergencies.
“These villages are located close to the border and remain vulnerable to infiltration attempts, drone-based drops and underground tunnelling, particularly during the winter season due to foggy weather conditions,” the spokesperson said.
The VDG members have welcomed both the training initiative and the recent upgradation of their weapons from .303 rifles to self-loading rifles (SLRs), which has significantly boosted their confidence.
Appreciating the role of VDGs in strengthening internal security, SSP Jammu said that empowering them is part of a multi-layered security strategy to reinforce the border grid and ensure long-term peace in the region.
